Being a Conservative on the Liberal Internet

Published on October 26, 2008 By Island Dog In Internet

Every day I visit tons of website, forums, and social networks for all types of topics, most of which are technology based in some sort of form. This election cycle has really brought out the best of the liberal “group think” mentality regarding Obama. On just about every social network Obama is praised as “the one” and any hint of disagreement with his policies or ideals is immediately responded with accusations of racism, or just plain insults. Anybody who wants to claim that liberals are tolerant to others, please give me a shout because I can quickly debunk that. Even here on our network of sites, there have been insults tossed at the slightest hint of either supporting McCain, or being against Obama. I’m certainly not saying conservatives don’t dish out their fair share, but the mentality of liberals has once again bordered on the insane and hateful.

It’s tough being a proud conservative, as I will say what I think regardless of what the group and mob mentality is. The real shame is so many people, especially bloggers in the tech area, are afraid to do the same. I have received so many private notes and comments in support of standing up for conservatism, it’s almost crazy. The best comparison I can make is how conservative actors in Hollywood are often ridiculed or turned down for roles because of their conservative beliefs, and the same mentality is going on right now in the blogosphere. Conservative bloggers, some of which can be considered A-list are having to remain silent about their thoughts on Obama and McCain, simply because they are afraid of retribution from their employers or just not being able to pickup work from other sites. It’s a shame, and it’s more telling about liberals than it is anything.

I am a conservative, I don’t like Obama, and I will never let anyone intimidate me because of that.

Comments (Page 74)

1096

Excalpius

on Nov 11, 2008

I only see 1 person posting 5 times in a row one time, 6 in another...

Well the quotes don't automatically include people's user names, so this is how I respond to 5 or 6 different posts. I don't want to ignore any questions.

And I'm working on something right now, so I can't be on the forum 24/7, so I guess that means I am in "burst mode".

1097

vStyler

on Nov 11, 2008

And yet, my karma keeps climbing...daily.

Dont flatter yourself, 5 of those were pity points from me.

1098

Frogboy

on Nov 11, 2008

Regardless, I've dealt with everything you've dealt with on a day to day basis, for years, and then I've dealt with the next orders of magnitude.

This is why people are finding you egotystical, Exalpius. You don't know what I've delt with any more than I know what you've dealt with.

Moreover, since you don't identify any of these "household" name companies you founded and ran, it seems pretty inappropriate for you to use yourself as a source when you don't back up it up with any evidence.

You can't use the "I'm smarter than everyone" with your proof of this being yourself. You need to provide evidence otherwise you should use a different strategy to make your case.

1099

Frogboy

on Nov 11, 2008

1. I want you to explain why 435 people in congress are better qualified to spend that money than I, who earned it, am.

Um, I shouldn't have to explain that THIS is our system of government. If you want complete laissez fair capitalism, you might want to try moving operations to Russia. Ironic isn't it? Regardless, I believe the next administration will be better than the last, and will guide the congress better than the past. I believe there will be push back on any excessive attempts at taxation. Time will tell.

But you don't say why you believe this. Your argument is that we should give more money to the federal government.

No one is denying that the federal government has the power to tax. It could, for instance, lower taxes to 0% if it wanted to or raise taxes to 100%. But that doesn't mean it would be a good idea either way.

You are saying it would be a good idea to give more money on the argument that it's good when the government spends our money rather than individuals. You have even gone so far as to say that giving the government money shows ones compassion.

1100

Frogboy

on Nov 11, 2008

Ah, so YOU (as the boss) are paying less for your premiums. Guess who is picking up the difference?! Just because the costs have SHIFTED from you to your employees doesn't mean the coverage is comparable in cost or value.

This is why you dodged my point that I don't believe Americans are getting the same quality of care for even the same premium costs, with no change in deductibles, co-pays, reduction in things covered, etc.

It's not just about how much you are paying out of pocket. It's about the coverage and care your employees are getting and the costs they are bearing compared to 10, 20, 30 years ago.

Can you point me to the website of your plan provider (private message if you'd prefer), because I just don't buy that you and your EMPLOYEES are NET paying less than they were 10, 20, 30 years ago for the same health care.

All I see in the latest Blue Cross plans is a whole lot of shitty plans, none of which are as good as what I had personally a decade ago. It's just a lot of obfuscation masked as "choices" that we should never even have to worry about making. It's all a shell game, and everyone knows it now.

Oh. and btw, health savings accounts are a SCAM. The HMOs get to earn interest on your employees' money while they hold onto it and if your employee doen't spend it the HMO gets to keep the remainder too. It's designed to look like they are helping you, but in fact, they are just guaranteeing you WILL pay X dollars into the system, whether you need it or not. It's an illusion of choice and help when all it's doing is screwing you out of your own money for health care charges only this country makes you pay yourself in the first place.

Meanwhile, the HMOs continue to shift costs from themselves (and employers) to the employees, putting yet an ever-increasing squeeze on the middle class.

You are assuming an awful lot about our health care plan that isn't true. And I'll tell you what, I'll happily publicly provide the health care plan URL as soon as you put up your official resume. Sound fair?

Otherwise, you'll just need to take my word that our costs have gone down, the employees end up with better quality service, and that the health savings account setup we have isn't a scam.

1101

Frogboy

on Nov 11, 2008

4. You have stated that Bush "tanked" the economy but don't explain how.

Just check the news...daily, amigo. I'm not alone in this assertion. Honestly. Does this even bear a cursory examination? Do you not hold the GOP (with control/veto power of the White House to the present and both houses of congress through 2006) responsible for this additional $7 trillion in debt? Are you one of those 7% who think the country is on the right track? Honestly?!

That's your evidence? Because people believe it? No policy decisions? Just a measure of what people think?

Most Americans also believe in ghosts and that they have a personal relationship with a magical superbeing. That doesn't make it true, it just means that people believe it.

I asked you how Bush made the economy tank.

1102

Frogboy

on Nov 11, 2008

6. You have said that right-wingers are all about "me me me me"

I said, specifically, the right-wing posters in this thread. They, and yourself, keep stating "I get to decide who eats my apples" etc. etc. Well, X% of your apples are going to The Man. That's the way this country works, like it or not. And The Man gets to decide who gets those apples, because they have become His apples, OUR collective apples. If you don't like it, you get to vote for The Man every four years. It's a representative democracy...and you just lost some representation. Not all of it, mind you, just some.

You didn't address the issue.

We know that "the man" has the power to take the apples. The issue is, how exactly is thinking it a good thing that "the man" is taking the apples make you a compassionate person whereas the guy who thinks that the people who pick the apples should decide how those apples are used make them selfish?

1103

Frogboy

on Nov 11, 2008

Regardless, as I said before, the "everyone thinks" argument is fallacious and poor debate tactics. You have no idea how many private responses I am getting regarding this thread. 1 or a 100. Nor does it matter to the weight or rationality of my position.

Didn't you just use the "everyone thinks" as proof that Bush caused the economy to "tank"? So "everyone thinks" is only invalid if it applies to you but it's perfectly valid to use on those you oppose?

1104

Frogboy

on Nov 11, 2008

I only see 1 person posting 5 times in a row one time, 6 in another...

I like to break comments up into individual comment responses too. I find it easer for people to manage if the topics diverge.

1105

BONEHEADdb

on Nov 11, 2008

And yet, my karma keeps climbing...daily.

Dont flatter yourself, 5 of those were pity points from me.

And 1 of those is your share of spreading the karma from me.

1106

Excalpius

on Nov 11, 2008

Hehe, you ARE reading what I post.

But you know the difference is that vstyler is using it as justification for his assertion that I am on losing end of public opinion here, and I used to to point out that there is no debate about the economy tanking. None whatsoever.

1107

Excalpius

on Nov 11, 2008

The issue is, how exactly is thinking it a good thing that "the man" is taking the apples make you a compassionate person whereas the guy who thinks that the people who pick the apples should decide how those apples are used make them selfish?

I addressed the COMPASSIONATE issue later in the post. No need to repeat it. Again, you keep trying to turn the argument into something that I am not.

1108

Excalpius

on Nov 11, 2008

I asked you how Bush made the economy tank.

And I've already posted this during this thread. Why am I stuck repeating something that is common knowledge, over and over again, just to save you from reading?

1109

Excalpius

on Nov 11, 2008

Dont flatter yourself, 5 of those were pity points from me.

I know...thanks!

1110

Excalpius

on Nov 11, 2008

You can't use the "I'm smarter than everyone" with your proof of this being yourself.

I have never said that. Period. You can keep putting words in my mouth but that's not fooling anyone.

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